Process of and apparatus for producing design patterns in materials

Abstract

A process and system for providing a design pattern in a material wherein a seleced medium is applied to the material, the material being positioned adjacent a surface of a template which surface has selected surface characteristics either topographical or non-topographical in nature. The material is held against the template surface at a selected pressure and for a selected time period, at least a portion of the medium coming into contact with the template surface. The surface characteristics of the template interact with the material and the medium as the medium comes into contact with the surface to produce the desired pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for producing a design pattern in a material comprising the steps of applying a selected medium to selected portions of an exposed surface of a material in which said design pattern is to be produced;   positioning said material adjacent to a surface of a template having selected surface characteristics either before or after said medium has been applied to said material; and   holding said material against said template surface, at a selected pressure provided either by the weight of said material or by an externally applied controllable pressure and for a selected time period, to bring at least a portion of said material and said medium into contact with said template surface, different pressures and time periods being selected so as to produce different design patterns on the surface of said material, which patterns differ from the surface characteristics of said template and wherein said different design patterns are produced as a result of at least said different selected pressures and time periods.   
     
     
       2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       3. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       4. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medium is applied in a wet form and further including the step of drying said material when said design pattern has been produced on the surface thereof. 
     
     
       5. A process in accordance with claim 4 wherein said drying step includes applying heated air to said material. 
     
     
       6. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medium is applied in a dry form. 
     
     
       7. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is held against said template surface by applying an external force thereto. 
     
     
       8. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is held against said template surface by using its own weight to provide said pressure. 
     
     
       9. A system for producing a design pattern in a material, which pattern differs from the surface characteristics of a template means, comprising means for applying a selected medium to selected portions of an exposed surface of a material in which said design pattern is to be produced and which material is to be positioned adjacent to said template means; template means having selected surface characteristics formed on a surface thereof so that, when said material is positioned adjacent to and held against the surface of said template means, patterns can be produced on the surface of said material; means for positioning said material adjacent said surface of said template means either before or after said medium has been applied to said material; and means for holding said material against said template surface, at a selected pressure provided either by the weight of said material or by an externally applied controllable pressure and for a selected time period, to bring at least a portion of said material and said medium into contact with said template surface, different pressures and time periods being selected so as to produce different patterns on the surface of said material, which patterns differ from the surface characteristics of said template means and wherein said different design patterns are produced as a result of at least said selected pressures and time periods. 
     
     
       10. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said template surface has topographical surface characteristics. 
     
     
       11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are random in nature. 
     
     
       12. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are non-random in nature. 
     
     
       13. A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said non-random topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are abstract in nature. 
     
     
       14. A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said non-random topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are representational in nature. 
     
     
       15. A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said non-random topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are both abstract and representational in nature. 
     
     
       16. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said template surface has non-topographical characteristics. 
     
     
       17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are random in nature. 
     
     
       18. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are non-random in nature. 
     
     
       19. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said non-random non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are abstract in nature. 
     
     
       20. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said non-random non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are representational in nature. 
     
     
       21. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said non-random non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are both abstract and representational in nature. 
     
     
       22. A system in accordance with claims 10, 15, or 16 wherein said template surface is formed of a selected substance such that, when said material is held against said surface for said interaction, portions of said substance are caused to become permanently bonded to said material. 
     
     
       23. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said selected substance is a synthetic polymer material. 
     
     
       24. A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said synthetic polymer material is a polyethylene material. 
     
     
       25. A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said synthetic polymer material is a vinyl material. 
     
     
       26. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said medium is selected so as to be in a wet form and said system further includes means for drying said material when said design pattern has been produced thereon.   
     
     
       27. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said drying means comprises air circulation means for directing circulating air on to said material. 
     
     
       28. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said air circulating means includes means for heating said circulating air. 
     
     
       29. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said medium is selected so as to be in a dry form. 
     
     
       30. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said holding means includes means for providing an external pressure on said material so as to hold it against said template surface at said selected pressure. 
     
     
       31. A system in accordance with claims 9 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein;   means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means;   said medium being magnetized so that when said medium is applied to said material said magnetized particles cause said medium to be attracted to said template surface so as to conform to said selected pattern.   
     
     
       32. A system in accordance with claims 9 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein;   means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means in contact with a surface of said template means so that said surface forms a topographical pattern conforming to said selected pattern of magnetized particles.   
     
     
       33. A system in accordance with claim 30 wherein said material is held against said template surface by using its own weight to provide said pressure. 
     
     
       34. A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       35. A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       36. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       37. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       38. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein;   means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means;   said medium being magnetized so that when said medium is applied to said material said magnetized particles cause said medium to be attracted to said template surface so as to conform to said selected pattern.   
     
     
       39. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein;   means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means in contact with a surface of said template means so that said surface forms a topographical pattern conforming to said selected pattern of magnetized particles.   
     
     
       40. A system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       41. A system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       42. A system in accordance with claim 39 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       43. A system in accordance with claim 39 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material. 
     
     
       44. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said selected pressure is provided by the weight of said material.